Assessment of the Impact of Land Use Change on Soil Physical, Chemical, and Biological Properties: A Case Study in the Loshan Region, Guilan Province

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

Abstract

Land use change can significantly influence soil properties, both directly and indirectly, with important implications for soil health and agricultural productivity. This study aimed to assess the effects of converting barren land into paddy fields and olive orchards on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties in the Loshan region of Guilan Province, Iran. The results showed that land use change led to notable improvements in soil quality. Physically, the conversion increased clay and silt content while decreasing sand content compared to barren land. The mean weight diameter of soil aggregates increased significantly 3.73 times in olive orchards and 1.53 times in paddy fields indicating improved soil structure. Chemically, soil fertility improved. The levels of organic carbon, total nitrogen, and key nutrients such as Phosphorus and Potassium were significantly higher in the cultivated lands. Organic carbon content was approximately 3.9 times higher in paddy fields and 2.8 times higher in olive orchards than in barren soils. Biologically, the soil's microbial activity increased. Microbial biomass carbon rose nearly fourfold in paddy fields and nearly threefold in olive orchards. In summary, converting barren land to paddy fields and olive orchards positively affected soil health by improving its physical, chemical, and biological properties, thus supporting higher agricultural productivity and long-term natural resource sustainability.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Objective

Land use change is a key factor that significantly influences the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil, potentially enhancing or degrading soil quality and agricultural productivity. This study aimed to investigate the effects of converting barren lands into olive orchards and rice paddies on various soil characteristics in the Loshan region of Guilan Province, northern Iran. The main focus was placed on assessing soil organic carbon stock along with other indicators of soil health and fertility.

Methodology

To evaluate the impact of land use change, soil samples were collected from three land use types—barren lands, olive orchards, and rice paddies—at a depth of 30 cm. A range of soil properties was measured using standard laboratory methods. These included organic matter content, nutrient levels (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium), aggregate stability, microbial biomass carbon. The collected data were statistically analyzed to compare soil characteristics among the different land uses and determine significant changes.

Findings

The results revealed that converting barren land into agricultural uses—specifically olive orchards and rice paddies—led to substantial improvements in key soil properties. Organic matter content increased from 0.46% in barren soils to 1.30% in olive orchards and 1.79% in rice paddies. Total nitrogen levels and microbialactivity significantly increased in rice paddies, while olive orchards showed notable improvements in aggregate stability and cation exchange capacity.
Furthermore, both rice paddies and olive orchards exhibited enhanced biological activity, as evidenced by higher microbial biomass carbon, indicating more active microbial communities and faster decomposition of organic matter. Improvements in soil physical structure were also observed, including aggregate stability in cultivated lands compared to barren soils. These positive changes suggest that land use conversion simultaneously benefits the physical, chemical, and biological dimensions of soil health.

Conclusion

The transformation of barren land into rice paddies and olive orchards results in meaningful enhancements in soil quality. These improvements include higher organic matter and nutrient content, improved soil structure, increased biological activity, and greater soil organic carbon storage all of which contribute to increased agricultural productivity and long-term sustainability of farming systems. Therefore, strategic and informed land use planning is recommended as an effective approach to improve soil health, conserve natural resources, and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, K.M. and A.G.; Methodology, K.M.; software, S.H.; validation, S.H., M.S.A. and K.M.; Formal Analysis, S.H.; Investigation, S.H.; Resources, S.H.; Data Curation, A.G.; Writing—Original Draft Preparation, S.H.; Writing—Review and Editing, A.G.; Visualization, S.H.; Supervision, K.M.; Project Administration, A.G.; Funding Acquisition, S.H. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.”

All authors contributed equally to the conceptualization of the article and writing of the original and subsequent drafts.

Data Availability Statement

Data available on request from the authors.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all participants of the present study.

Ethical considerations

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Zanjan. The authors avoided data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, and misconduct

Conflict of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

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Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research
Volume 56, Issue 8
November 2025
Pages 2179-2197

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